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(Na Model.)

" J. L. THOMSON.

CLASP lPoR ovERsHoBs.

Patented Deo'. 5, 18.82.

WITNEESEE* w EN 'Nl/NTUH-W dmut- @M /Q H Qm./ d

-lINITED STATES PATENT OFFICES.

J UDSON L, THOMSON, OF SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK.

CLASP FoaovERsHoEs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,572, dated December 5,1882.

Application filed October 7,1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JDsoN L.THoMsoN, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Arctic Overshoes, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description. rlhis invention relates to a novel construc- "Io tion of aV clasp adapted for the fastening of trunk-lids, and for use as a buckle on harnesses and on various other articles, but more particularly designed as a fastener for arctic overshoes, the construction of said fastener being as follows:

Referring to the annexed drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the clasp detached. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same united. Fig. 3 is an edge view illustrating the operation of zo the clasp in unfastening the same. Fig. 4 is a side view of the part of the clasp which carries the clasping tongue or bail with the latter turned down, and Fig. 5 is a detached view of said bail.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

A represents an elongated metal plate provided on one end with suitable means for attaching it to the article to which it iste be applied, said means being here represented in and fastened thereto by either sewing, riveting, or other well-known means not necessary to be here illustrated. The free portion ofthe plate rA is provided with two or more transverse slots, c a. B is another metal plate, pro- 4o vided with similar means for att-aching it to the front of theother quarter of the arctic overshoes. Said plate is formed with a vertical offset, d, along the side nearest the plate A, said offset being made concave on its rear ,45 side, as shown ate, and of a height equal to the thickness of the plate A, and of about the same length as the slot a of said plate. On the top of the offset d the plate B is provided with a roll or sleeve, b, extending part way the 5o length of the offset d, and in this sleeve is hinged an arm or wire bail, c, the extremities of which terminate in the sleeve, and are separated so as to allow them to spread or spring apart, for the purpose presently explained. The sleeve bis provided at each end with two notches, a a, arranged in such relative positions' that by the spring of the' bail e into said notches said bail is held yieldingly either in a forward-projecting or in a rearwardly-lying position. The bail beingconstructed to spring apart, as before described, allows. said bail to be swung from notch to notch and spring into the aforesaid two positions. The center of the sleeve b is provided at the rear side with a transverse slot, f, through which protrudes a cam, g, formed by a bend of one of the extremities of the bail c, as best seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The operation of my improved clasp is as follows: lThe bail o, after being swung forward, is entered into one of the slots a of the plate A. Then by using the bail as a lever and swinging the free end thereof rearward the kplate A is drawn toward and down upon the plate B, the sleeve b passing through the slot a and allowing the plate A to engage the concave portion of the oset d, said offset entering at the'same time the slot c, and by its close lit to the same prevents lateral play of the plate A. When the parts are so interlocked the cam g lies in the bottom of the slot j', .before described. The cam g stands at such an angle from the bail c and the slot fis ot' such length as to allow the cam g to lie flush with the top of the plate B when the bail c is swung rearward, as shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings. -A lateral extension, of the slotfaffords sufficient lateral play to the cam g to allow the bail o to spread apart while springing from notch to notch a. In unfastening the clasp the bail c is raised and swung forward, and in so doing the cam g on the bail lifts the plate A out of its engagement with the plate B, after which it readily slips oft' the end of the bail.

It will be observed that by providing the clasplplate A with two. or more slots, a, the device is rendered adjustable to properly fit the shoe to the instep of the wearers foot, and allows the clasp to be slackened, when desired, without entirely disjoining it and causing it to hang loosely on the shoe.

IOO

l do not claim broadly the combination of one of the clasp-plates provided with a hinged lever or clamping-arm, and the other plate provided with a slot through which the said arm passes in uniting the two plates, as I am aware the same is not new.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In combination with the plate A, provided with slots a a, the plate B, provided with the raised sleeve b and with notches n n in the ends of said sleeve, and the spring-bail c, hinged thereon, substantially as shown and set forth. Y

2. In combination with theplateA, provided with slots a, the plate B, provided with the offset d, having concavity e, and abutting against the ends of the slot a, the sleeve b, having notches n n, and the spring-bail c, hinged in said sleeve, substantially as set forth and shown.

3. In combination with theplate A, provided with slots a, the plate B, having the sleeve b, provided with the slot f, and the bail c, having the cam g protruding through said slot, as and for the purpose specified and shown'. In testimony whereof I havehereunto signed my name and affixed my seal, in the presence ot' two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 3d day of October, 1882.

JUDSON L. THOMSON.

Witnesses:

WM. C. RAYMOND, FREDERICK H. GIBBs.

iL. Si 

